Fountain mop



Jan. 25, 1944. w. R. ELLIOTT 2,340,115

FOUNTAIN MOP Filed Feb. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Shed 2 I N VEN TOR.

mzgz ramzazzzzoz ATI'D R N IYI Jan. 25, 1944. w. R. ELLIOTT FOUNTAIN MOPFiled Feb. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l .LLLLL INVENTOR. MZZZQUZZQEZZZOZZATI'D R N EYE Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICEFOUNTAIN MOP William R. Elliott, Constantine, Mich. 7 ApplicationFebruary 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,146

5 Claims.

This invention relates to washing devices, and its general object is toprovide a washing device in the form of a fountain mop, which isprimarily designed for washing automobiles and like vehicles, in amanner to thoroughly cleanse the same, without marring or otherwisedamaging the finish of the body, fenders, and the like, as the devicesprays water on the finish to loosen and wash dirt therefrom, and thehead of the devic includes mop material of a. character and which isassociated with the head in a manner, so that damage to the finish ispratically impossible.

A further object is to provide a washing device that can be used withminimum efiort, and

without the user becoming unduly wet or soiled.

Another object is to provide a washing device that includes a spraynozzle for directing water through the head, and the nozzle is removablefrom the head so that the device can be used when water under pressureis not available.

A further object is to provide a washing device that is simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely fiicient inoperation, use and service.

"This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my device.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken therethrough, with parts inelevation.

Figure 3 is a side view of the spray nozzle.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the clamping frame or bandfor securing the mop material'to the body of the head.

"Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken through the body.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the spray nozzle, looking withinthesame.

l Figure 7 is a top plan view of the device, with the mop materialremoved therefrom, and illustrate's a handle which is longer than thatshown iii-Figures 1 and 2. I

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 8-8 'ofFigure7, looking in the direotion-of thearrows.

Figure 9 is a side view, partially in section, of a modified form. a

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken approximately on line Ill-IE! ofFigure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 isa side view, partially in section, of a further modifiedform.

Figur 12 is a sectional view taken approximately on line l2-l2 of Figure11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that the headwhich is similar in all the forms, includes a body that is made up of aplate I of hexagon configuration, and the plate has an upright marginalflange 2 formed thereon, as well as is preferably formed to provide a'reduced forward portion having a circular opening therein, as best shownin Figur 7. An upright flange 3 is likewise formed on the plate aboutthe edge of the opening, and the flange 3 is provided with an exteriorlyarranged annular bead 4 about its upper edge.

The outer face of the plate is covered with'suitable absorbent material5, which in the form shown is a sheet of sheepskin having the woolthereon as such has proven exceedingly satisfactory due to the softnessand other inherent qualities of the wool for washing a vehicle body,fenders, etc., without scratching, marring or otherwise damaging thefinish thereof. The skin is of an area for disposal about the marginalflange 2 and to extend within the body, in engagement with the innerface of the plate I and is held in place, by a fiat clamping frame orband 6 bearing against the wool and secured accordingly by bolt and nutconnections I, the bolts being fixed to the plate and rising therefromas best shown in Figure 5.

The skin is provided with an opening registering with the opening in theplate and secured to the skin about the opening is a collar 8 of anysuitable flexible material, such as heavy fabric or the like, the collarextending through the opening of the plate and about the flange 3, aswell as is secured thereto, about the outer face of the flange by asplit resilient metallic clamping band 9. However, a continuous elasticband may be provided for that purpose.

Formed on and extending from diametrically opposite sides of the flange3 are pins ID for de' tachably securing a spray nozzle to the flange 3,the nozzle including an attaching collar I I formed on the body l2thereof, and the collar is provided with bayonet slots Ill receiving thepins. The body includes a perforated wall l3 for passage of watertherethrough and through the openings in the head, as shown by the arrowin Figure 2, and the body I2 is reduced from the perforated wall l3, aswell as is formed with a nipple M at its small end, the nipple havingsecured thereto one end of a hose I5 for connection to a faucet or thelike.

Secured to th plate rearwardly of the flange 3 is an attaching bracketthat includes flat spaced parallel limbs l6 having pivotally securedbetween the outer ends thereof a transversely curved arm H, the armbeing formed with a sleeve l8 mounted on the bolt of a bolt and nutconnection l9,

and the bolt bridges the limbs to provide the pivot for the arm, asclearly shown in Figure 2. The nut of the connection I9 is preferably ofthe wing type, to facilitate application and removal of the arm relativeto the bracket.

Formed on the outer end of the arm is a clamping collar provided withlaterally extending apertured ears 2| having the bolt of a bolt and wingnut connection 22, extending therethrough for clamping a solid handle 23within the collar 20. The handle 23 is relatively short, but I alsoprovide a long solid handle 24 for the device, as shown in Figure '7,and the handles have eye screws 25 threaded therein for passage of thehose l5 therethrough, to hold the hose along the length of the handles,as will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2.

- The modification of Figures 9 and 10 includes a head and handleattaching means exactly like that of the form of Figures 1 to 7, but thehandle of the form of Figures 9 and 10 is not only rela-- tively long,but is hollow throughout the length thereof to provide an outer shellportion or member 26 having mounted therein, a tube 21 that is longerthan the shell member to extend through the ends thereof and is securedto the shell member by annular beads 28 formed on the tube and engagingthe ends of the shell member, as shown. The ends of the tube also haveannular beads 29 and 30 formed thereon, and a short hose of flexibletubing 3| has its ends connected to the nipple: of the spray nozzle andthe inner end of the tube 21, respectively, while the hose 32 isconnected to the outer end of the tube 21, the hose 3| and 32 being heldon the tube 21 by the beads 29 and 30. The shell member 25 is preferablymade from wood, while the tube 28 is made from metal.

The modified form of handle of Figures 11 and 12 includes a metallictubular member or pipe 33 having short tubular inserts 34 and 35 securedin and extending from the ends thereof, and the inserts have annularbeads 36 and 31 formed on the outer ends for securing hose 38 and 39thereto, the hose 38 being connected tothe spray nozzle while the hose39 like the hose 32 is for connection to a faucet or the like.

It might be mentioned that when water under pressure is not available,the spray nozzle can be removed from the head, and thence the device canbe used with a pail of water or the like for washing the vehicle. In anyevent, the device is; capable of performing its intended functioneificaciously and with minimum effort on thepart of the user, especiallyin view of the fact that the handle is pivotally associated with thehead, as that feature allows the head to move atvarious angles withrespect to the handle,.yetremain in flat relation to the surfacebeing-washed.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features'of the invention will be readily apparent. 1 "I I itis-to be understood that changesmayibe' made in the construction and inthe combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that suchchanges fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

l. A fountain mop comprising a head including a body made up of a platehaving an opening therein, a marginal flange formed on the plate andrising therefrom, absorbent material covering the outer face of theplate and arranged within the flange for disposal within the body, meansfor clamping the absorbent material within the body, said materialhaving an opening therein registering with the opening in the plate, aflange formed on the plate about the opening therein, a flexible collarsecured to the material about the opening therein and arranged about thesecond flange for disposal within the body, means clamping the flexiblecollar to the second flange, a spray nozzle detachably secured to thesecond flange for directing water through the openings, and a handlepivotallysecured to the inner face of the plate.

2. A fountain mop comprising a head including a body made up of a plateof hexagon configuration and having a reduced forward portion providedwith an opening therein, a marginal: flange formed on the plate andrising therefrom, absorbent material covering the outer face of theplate and arranged about the flange for disposal within the body, meansfor clamping the absorbent material within the body, said mate rialhaving an opening therein registering withthe opening in the plate, aflange formed on the plate about the opening therein, a flexible-col-'lar secured to the material about the opening therein and arranged aboutthe second flange for disposal, within the body, means clamping theflexible collar to the second flange, pins se-- cured to the secondflange and extending from diametrically opposite sides of the outer facethereof, a spray nozzle including a collar having bayonet slots thereinreceiving the pins for detachably securing the nozzle to the secondflange to direct water through the openings, a hose con-. nected to thenozzle, a handle pivotally secured to the body, and means secured to thehandle and having the hose extending therethrough.

3. A fountain mop comprising a head includ= ing a body made up of aplate having an open-. ing therein, a marginal flange formed on theplate and rising therefrom, a sheet of sheepskin having wool thereon andcovering the outer face of the body with the wool outermost, said skinbeing arranged about the flange for disposal within the body, means forclamping the skin within the body, said skin having an opening thereinregistering with the opening in the plate, means secured to the skinabout the opening therein and clamped within the body, a spray nozzlesecured to the body for directing water through the openings, and ahandle pivotally secured to the plate.

4. A fountain mop comprising a head including a body made up of a platehaving an opening therein, a marginal flange formed on the plate andrising therefrom, absorbent material covering the outer face of theplate and arranged about the flange for disposal within the body, boltssecured to the plate and rising therefrom, a frame mounted on the boltsand held thereon in clamping engagement with theabsorbent -ma-? terialfor securing the latter within thebody, said material having anopeningtherein regise; tering with the opening in the.plate,'means.se

opening, a nozzle having the bottom adapted to fit in telescopicrelation with the opening flange and a reduced opening at the top, meansfor detachably securing the nozzle on the said opening flange, and aclamping member removably secured on the top of the body disposed tocooperate with the perimeter flange for clamping mop material on thebody.

WILLIAM R. ELLIOTT.

